AMERICAN POLITICS SYLLABUS
Term 2 2011-12
[email protected]
BLOCK 2
PS Rykken
715-299-0311 (cell)
WHY STUDY AMERICAN POLITICS?
We live in a highly charged political environment in the United States. We allow anyone 18 or older
to vote for our leaders at all levels, have a free press that can be supportive or critical of those
leaders, and have a working constitution that is constantly being reevaluated in light of new
circumstances. This class will introduce you to that environment and help you make sense of it.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT TO LEARN ABOUT IN THIS CLASS?
The background and structure of the US Constitution
A comparative look at the Wisconsin and Ho-Chunk Constitutions
An analysis of your own political beliefs and how they developed
Challenging issues facing the US in 2011-12
The role of the media in our lives, especially related to politics
An overview of the Congress, the Presidency, and the Court System
6 Great Documents of the American Political Experience
The purpose and functions of the Student Senate at BRFHS
Always SEEK HELP if you
need it. If you do not
understand, it is either my
fault or your fault and we
need to work through the
information. But, YOU MUST
INITIATE THAT. Feel free to
e-mail or call me with
questions.
THE STOTAN 5: KEYS TO REFLECTIVE ENGAGEMENT!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
LISTEN ACTIVELY! (LA)
PREPARE WELL PRIOR TO CLASS – 30 MINUTE STUDY RULE (30P)
TAKE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE TEAM SERIOUSLY! (RT)
PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL! (AD)
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF PHYSICALLY: SLEEP AND WATER! (SW)
ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS?
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7.
LISTEN CAREFULLY FOR MY REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING THE WI-FI AND HAND-HELD DEVICES!
CHECK THE AMERICAN POLITICS CLASS BLOG AT THE START OF EACH WEEK!
HAVE A 3-RING BINDER FOR ORGANIZING PURPOSES
UTILIZE FOCUS FOR READING AND TEST MAKE-UP
BRING YOUR TEXT EACH DAY/ COVER YOUR TEXT/ BE ON TIME – NO EXCUSES
NO WRITING ON TABLES, NO SODA OR FOOD, WATER IS GOOD!
TREAT EVERYONE IN THE ROOM WITH RESPECT – ALWAYS!
* I will treat you as a young adult. The relationship that you and I have is important. I will
treat you in a professional way and I expect that in return.
ATTENDANCE, LATE WORK POLICY, SEEKING HELP
♦ Your attendance is CRITICAL! Take it seriously. Let me know if you will be gone.
♦ If you are absent for more than one day consecutively, make sure you call the office or
e-mail so that you can keep up with what is being done in class.
♦ Assignments are due by 3:15 of the due date. If late, you may receive up to half credit
for the work. Make-up exams are done on your time – Focus period or before or after
school. This is completely your responsibility.
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TERM 1 ASSIGNMENT CALENDAR: 2011-12
Keep track of when things are due and PLAN AHEAD!
Monday 7 November
7-15 November
Friday 11 November (Late Start)
Monday 14 November
Tuesday 15 November
16-18 November
21-28 November
24-25 November
29 November – 7 December
Tuesday 29 November
Friday 2 December
Wednesday 7 December
Opening Day of Class!
UNIT 1: INTRO TO THE AMERICAN
POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
Unit 1 Textbook Work Due!
Wednesday 21 December
Thursday 22 December
22 December – 6 January
24 December – 1 January
Tuesday 3 January
Friday 6 January
9-17 January
SELECTION OF ISSUE FOR RESEARCH!
Citizen Forum #1 (test)
SIDEBAR: UNDERSTANDING MEDIA
SIDEBAR: THE CONSTITUTION
Thanksgiving Break: No Classes
UNIT 2: LAWMAKING
CONSTITUTION STUDY GUIDE DUE!
CITIZENSHIP TEST!
Citizen Forum #2
Unit 2 Textbook Work Due!
UNIT 3: LEADERSHIP
Citizen Forum #3
Unit 3 Textbook Work Due!
Letter to Public Official Due (Part of Final Exam)
Distribute and start Citizen Forum #4
UNIT 4: JUSTICE
Christmas Holiday: No Classes
Citizen Forum #4 Due
Unit 4 Textbook work due
UNIT 5: AMERICA IN THE WORLD
Wednesday 11 January
Monday/Tuesday 16-17 January
ISSUE RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT DUE!
Oral Tests – Part of Final Exam
8-21 December
Friday 16 December
Wednesday 18 January
TEACH-IN (Part of Final)
Thursday 19 January
Unit 5 Textbook Work Due (bonus)
FRIDAY 20 January
IN-CLASS FINAL (VOCAB AND ESSAYS)
I CHALLENGE YOU TO:
•
•
•
•
MAINTAIN YOUR INTENSITY
PROCESS LARGE AMOUNTS
OF INFORMATION
ORGANIZE YOUR THINKING
VIEW LEARNING AS A
PROCESS
NOTE THE ATTACHED
TEXTBOOK WORK
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ANSWERS SHOULD BE THOROUGH
AMERICAN POLITICS TEXTBOOK WORK
TERM 2
2011-12
HERE’S HOW WE WILL HANDLE THE TEXT IN THIS CLASS:
The text will be used selectively as ONE SOURCE of basic information about the American political
system – think of it as a handbook. You will be completing a series of Citizen Forums that will often
include text reading. The text work corresponds to the unit of study we are working on and is due on
the prescribed days. I need to see your work and it needs to be clear to me that you did the reading!
ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED TO RECEIVE CREDIT! START WORKING ON THE TEXT WORK AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE UNIT AND SPEND 20 MINUTES A DAY ON IT!
UNIT 1 TEXT WORK: INTRO TO THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
PORTIONS OF CHAPTERS 1-3, 5, 7, AND 8
FROM CHAPTER 1
1. Which of the 5 purposes of Government do you believe is most important and WHY?
2. Explain the "social contract" theory in your own words.
3. Explain in your own words the whole idea of POLITICAL ELITES. From what you know, does the
United States truly have a REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY as described in Chapter 1?
4. What is the difference between a federal government and a confederation?
5. What is the difference between a presidential government and a parliamentary government?
FROM CHAPTER 2
6. According to the text, how was the early US Government influenced by the Iroquois
Confederation? Why is this important for us to know?
7. What was the purpose of THE FEDERALIST?
FROM CHAPTER 3
8. Briefly describe the structure of the US Constitution. Take the time to look over each Article and
Amendment.
FROM CHAPTER 5
9. What 4 functions do political parties play in our political system? Briefly explain each.
10. Why does America have a TWO-PARTY system? Do you view the two-party system as a good
thing? Why or why not?
11. What functions do THIRD PARTIES play in our system?
FROM CHAPTER 7
12. Briefly summarize what the text says about WHO PARTICIPATES in our political system.
13. Generally speaking, what has happened to voting rights in our history?
14. What THREE FACTORS influence voting, according to the text? Which of those do you think is
most important?
FROM CHAPTER 8
15. Summarize what the text says about factors that influence our political attitudes (6 things).
16. Which of the 5 types of MASS MEDIA mentioned in the chapter do you use for understanding
what is going on in the world? Briefly explain.
TURN IN ON FRIDAY 11 November
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UNIT 2 TEXT WORK: LAWMAKING
PORTIONS OF CHAPTERS 4, 10, and 17
FROM CHAPTER 4
1. What is the “marble cake” theory of Federalism?
2. According to the Constitution, what are the basic FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITIES? What are the basic
STATE RESPONSIBILITIES?
3. What are FEDERAL MANDATES?
FROM CHAPTER 10
4. What is the difference between powers that are DELEGATED to Congress and those that are
IMPLIED?
5. What is meant by the term IMPEACHMENT?
6. What principle of the Constitution is illustrated by the OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATION power of
Congress?
7. How long does a "term" of Congress last? How many sessions are there in each term?
8. Tell me what apportionment is. What happens when Congress is "reapportioned?" What is
meant by the term RACIAL GERRYMANDERING?
9. What are the qualifications for being a House member? How about a Senator? How long do
House members serve? How about Senators?
10. What are the FOUR TYPES OF COMMITTEES that exist in Congress?
11. After reading the section on INCUMBENTS AND TERM LIMITS, what is your opinion of that whole
subject? Should we limit their terms?
FROM CHAPTER 17
12. List and explain the FIVE BASIC STAGES of policy-making as described in the text. WHY is policymaking so difficult in our system of government?
TURN IN ON Wednesday 7 December
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UNIT 3 TEXT WORK: LEADERSHIP
Portions of Chapters 6, 11 and 12
FROM CHAPTER 6
1. What are the main purposes of PRIMARY ELECTIONS? What is the difference between an OPEN
PRIMARY and a CLOSED PRIMARY? Where are we right now in the Presidential Election process?
Who do you believe will be elected President in 2012?
FROM CHAPTER 11
2. What are the three constitutional qualifications for being President?
3. What is the importance of the 22nd Amendment? What is your opinion of this one?
4. List and briefly explain the TWO MAIN CRITICISMS of the ELECTORAL COLLEGE system.
5. What is the importance of the 25th Amendment?
6. What are the two constitutionally-prescribed duties of the Vice-President?
7. What are the four CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS of the President? List the main categories of each in
your response.
8. CAREFULLY READ THE SECTION ON “EVOLUTIONARY POWERS.” Which of the four discussed areas
do you believe has MOST CONTRIBUTED to the growth of the power of the President and WHY?
FROM CHAPTER 12
9. List and briefly describe the function of the FOUR MAIN ADVISORY BODIES in the Executive Office
of the President (EOP).
10. What is the purpose of the President’s CABINET?
11. Give an example of each of the THREE TYPES OF INDEPENDENT AGENCIES noted in the text.
OVERALL QUESTION:
12. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT PRESIDENTS HAVE TOO MUCH POWER? WHY OR WHY NOT?
TURN IN ON FRIDAY 16 December
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UNIT 4 TEXT WORK: JUSTICE
Portions of CHAPTERS 13 AND 16
FROM CHAPTER 13
1. What is meant by the term JURISDICTION? What is the difference between EXCLUSIVE and
CONCURRENT jurisdiction?
2. What are the three CATEGORIES of law that federal and state courts deal with? Briefly explain
each.
3. What SELECTION CRITERIA do Presidents use when appointing federal judges?
4. Describe the process whereby most cases reach the Supreme Court.
5. In your own words, what is the difference between JUDICIAL ACTIVISM and JUDICIAL RESTRAINT?
FROM CHAPTER 16
6. Describe the importance of the VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.
7. READ THE SECTION ON BILINGUAL EDUCATION ON PAGE 323. Give me your opinion.
8. What is the importance of the COMMERCE CLAUSE regarding the status of American Indian
people? (note page 52). What is the importance of the Native American Rights Fund, as described
on page 326?
9. Do you believe that people in the non-native community understand the concept of sovereignty
as it relates to American Indian people? Why or why not?
10. READ ABOUT THE FOUR STAGES OF THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT. Why has the EQUAL
RIGHTS AMENDMENT been so CONTROVERSIAL?
11. What is the importance of the AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT?
12. READ THE SECTION IN YOUR TEXT ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. In your own words, tell me why
people SUPPORT AA and why people are OPPOSED to AA. ASSUME THAT YOU OPPOSE
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: What would you do to create better opportunities for people who have
traditionally been denied those opportunities?
TURN IN ON FRIDAY 6 January
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UNIT 5 TEXT WORK: AMERICA IN THE WORLD
Portions of CHAPTERS 17 and 18
FROM CHAPTER 17
1. What does it mean to say we are “living in the post-Cold War world?”
2. Read over the foreign policy priorities as listed on page 368. Which of the four do you believe
SHOULD be the most important priority for our government? Explain your choice.
3. What is the purpose of the STATE DEPARTMENT?
4. What is the main function of the NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL?
5. What is the purpose of the CIA?
6. What is the main headquarters of the Department of Defense called?
7. What are the three DIPLOMATIC POLICIES undertaken by the US Government? How much of
the US budget actually goes toward foreign aid each year? Does that figure surprise you?
8. What is meant by the expression DETERRENCE?
9. LIST AND BRIEFLY DESCRIBE the three common DEFENSE STRATEGIES that our government
uses in the world.
FROM CHAPTER 18
10. READ PAGES 386-395 concerning COMPARATIVE POLITICAL SYSTEMS. Write a 100-200 word
summary of the MAJOR DIFFERENCES between DEMOCRATIC political systems and
AUTHORITARIAN political systems.
TURN IN ON Thursday 19 January (for BONUS CREDIT)
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